April 2020 PPM Data – Information for the April 2020 ratings period has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Long Island (Nassau-Suffolk), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union. Nielsen Audio’s April 2020 survey period covered March 26 – April 22. Managing editor Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@TALKERS.com) provides his “Takeaways” from the PPM-markets below.

New York City

Spoken-Word Formats – Down one-tenth in March, iHeartMedia news/talk WOR “710 The Voice of New York” chalks up an April +1.1 (1.9 – 3.0, 6+) and zooms from #19 to #12. With a gain of two-tenths (1.3 – 1.5, 6+), WABC not only matches its best 6+-showing since February 2019 (1.5, as well), the Red Apple Media news/talk outlet cracks the top twenty (#22 to #20). Without an increase the fifth time in succession for an overall loss of three-tenths (1.1 – 1.0 – .9 – .9 – .9 – .8, 6+), Townsquare Media’s WKXW “New Jersey 101.5” skids from #24 to #27.

On the heels of its massive March 2020 +1.9, Entercom all-news WBBM-AM tacks on seven-tenths and is #1 the third time in a row. Furthermore, WBBM-AM crosses the eight-share mark and is a collective +3.5 via four straight gains (4.9 – 5.4 – 5.8 – 7.7 – 8.4, 6+).

Tacking on an April +1.1 to its March spike of seven-tenths (3.6 – 4.3 – 5.4, 6+), Chicago Public Media news/talk WBEZ advances from sixth to fourth.

A cumulative +2.2 in four successive sweeps without a loss (7.7 – 8.4 – 8.7 – 9.9 – 9.9, 6+), Entercom all-news KCBS-AM is #1 the third time in a row. KCBS-AM was on top from September through December, as well.

Spoken-Word Formats – There’s apparently no stopping Cox Media Group news/talk WSB-AM, which is +5.9 in four consecutive substantial gains (8.0 – 10.0 – 11.4 – 12.9 – 13.9, 6+) and #1 the tenth straight sweep. Moreover, this (13.9) represents the first time in the PPM-era that any Atlanta station has reached the 13-share level (6+). Last month, WSB-AM became the first Atlanta outlet to cross the 12-share threshold. By doubling (+.6) its March stat, Salem Media Group-owned WGKA “AM 920 The Answer” reaches the one-share level and cracks the top twenty (.6 – 1.2, #28 to #20, 6+). Likewise, Entercom’s WAOK “1380 The Voice of the Community” doubles (+.3) its 6+-figure (.3 – .6, #30 to #27, 6+). Meanwhile, iHeartMedia-owned WGST “Talk Radio 640” is unchanged at .2 (#32 to #31, 6+).

Locked on 3.3 (6+) in February and March, City of Atlanta Board of Education’s WABE spirals by -1.1 to 2.2 (#14 to #16, 6+). The “Holiday” 2019 through April 2020 topline for Georgia State University news/talk WRAS is: .6 – .7 – .6 – .7 – .5 (#27 to #29, 6+).

Flat at #5, WIP “Sports Radio 94.1” is down one-tenth in back-to-back reports (5.8 – 5.7 – 5.6, 6+). Before falling to third in December, the Entercom sports talk station had been #1 three months in a row. A combined -1.9 in three straight slips (3.3 – 2.9 – 2.1 – 1.4, 6+), Beasley Media Group-owned WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic” drops from #19 to #20.

After being a cumulative +2.1 in three straight gains (3.3 – 4.5 – 4.9 – 5.4, 6+), public radio news/talk WHYY forfeits nine-tenths to 4.5 (sixth to eighth, 6+). WHYY was +.7 in December and -.7 in “Holiday” 2019.

Spoken-Word Formats – After posting a .1 (6+) in August, September, and October, iHeartMedia news talk KKDD “1290 News Talk IE” is unlisted the seventh time in a row. Likewise, KKDD did not appear in print in May, June, and July.

As a result of being a combined +2.8 in March/April (6.5 – 7.4 – 9.3, 6+), Northern California Public Broadcasting news/talk KQED elevates from second to a first-place tie. KQED was -1.2 in December/“Holiday 2019 (6.9 – 6.5 – 5.7, 6+) and had a November-only stay at #1. In three straight bumps, San Francisco Unified School District news/talk KALW has more than doubled (+1.0) its 6+ AQH share (.7 – .8 – 1.1 – 1.7, 6+) and zooms into the top twenty (#25 to #18).

San Jose Music Formats – Through six consecutive sweeps without a loss – including April’s +1.7 – Bonneville’s KUFX is a collective +2.1 (3.3 – 3.4 – 3.4 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.7 – 5.4, 6+). “K-Fox The South Bay’s Classic Rock” reaches the five-share level (5.4) for the first time since June 2019’s 5.3 and vaults from seventh to fourth. The three latest moves by Alpha Media classic hits-oldies KBAY are -.5 (February); +.5 (March); and now +1.2 in April (8.1 – 7.6 – 8.1 – 9.3, 6+) as “94.5 Bay FM – The Bay’s Greatest Hits” is #1 the sixth time in a row. This time though it is tied for the lead with public radio news/talk KQED (see above). KBAY was a combined +1.5 in “Holiday” 2019/January 2020 (6.6 – 7.4 – 8.1, 6+). Following six successive months on top, it segued to #2 in November when it plummeted by -2.0 (8.6 – 6.6, 6+). Notching gains of eight-tenths each are iHeartMedia adult contemporary KISQ “98.1 The Breeze – Relaxing Favorites At Work” (seventh to fifth) and University of Southern California classical KDFC (#11 to #8). “The Breeze” is a cumulative +2.3 in three straight spikes (2.2 – 2.5 – 3.7 – 4.5, 6+), while KDFC is +1.1 in March/April (2.6 – 2.9 – 3.7, 6+). Off one-half share in February/March (2.9 – 2.9 – 2.4, 6+), iHeartMedia urban contemporary KMEL erases the deficit with a +.5 to 2.9 (#16 to #10, 6+). Improving by one-half share as well is Cumulus Media classic rock KSAN (2.1, #21 to #15, 6+); “107.7 The Bone” was -1.1 in February/March (2.7 – 2.2 – 1.6, 6+). Just prior, three straight increases accounted for a collective +1.2 (1.5 – 1.8 – 2.1 – 2.7, 6+). Alpha Media-owned hot AC KEZR “Mix 106.5 Today’s Best Music” spirals by -2.8 in March/April (6.1 – 5.0 – 3.3, fourth to ninth, 6+). When “Mix” added seven-tenths in February, it suspended five straight sweeps without an increase that resulted in a net loss of -1.3 (6.7 – 6.1 – 5.8 – 5.8 – 5.5 – 5.4, 6+). Following four straight sweeps without a loss for a +1.2 (2.3 – 2.3 – 2.6 – 2.6 – 3.5, 6+), Entercom’s similarly-formatted KLLC “Alice @ 97.3” relinquishes two-thirds of that increase (2.7, -.8, 6+) and departs the top ten (#9 to #12). Elsewhere in the hot AC format, iHeartMedia’s KIOI “Star 101.3” is -2.5 as a result of five consecutive down or flat trends (3.9 – 3.5 – 3.2 – 2.6 – 2.0 – 1.4, #18 to #21, 6+). Fading from the top ten (#10 to #16) is Entercom CHR KMVQ “99.7 Now The Bay’s #1 For All The Hits,” which is -2.5 in March/April (4.4 – 3.3 – 1.9, 6+). A combined +.9 in January/February (2.3 – 2.8 – 3.2, 6+), iHeartMedia’s KYLD “WiLD 94.9 The Bay’s #1 Hit Music Station” is -1.5 in March/April (3.2 – 2.5 – 1.7, #14 to #18, 6+). After more than doubling (+1.0) its 6+ AQH share via three successive sweeps without a loss (.9 – .9 – 1.1 – 1.9, 6+), Lazer Broadcasting regional Mexican KXZM returns half the increase (1.4, -.5, #19 to #21, 6+). Univision Radio regional Mexican KSOL “Que Buena,” which was a collective -1.4 through three consecutive drops (3.3 – 2.8 – 2.3 – 1.9, #20, 6+), is unlisted the fourth month in a row.